Button sewing machines



Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Oct. 7. 1955 w. r. MAXANT El'AL BUTTON SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Ml/iam T Maranl, [52 De P621] and 59771877? Marion Zeidz's ATTORNEYS Feb. 19, 1957 Filed Oct. 7, 1953 w. T. MAXANT ETAL 2,781,734

BUTTON SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR J 14 125377? I Maranl Far] De P321] and BPrTf-am M07157? EP/dis 7' A TTORNEYS United States Patent 2,781,734 BUTTON SEWING MACHINES William T. Maxant, Ayer, Mass, and Carl De Paul and Bertram MortonZeldis, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors t Chandler Machine Co., Ayer, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 7, 1953, Serial No. 384,662 4 Claims. (Cl. 112114) This invention relates to improvements in button sewing machines and more particularly to the type of machine for sewing shank buttons.

Shank buttons are usually made from glass, plastic, pearl, wood, leather, cloth covered over metal frames, and other types. In some instances, they are formed with a solid head and an integral shank provided with an opening therein to receive the thread, while in other cases a wire shank is provided on a solid head, usually U-shaped to provide an eye for the thread.

In the prior patent of William T. Maxant, No. 2,563,854, granted August 14, 1951, provision was made for sewing flat buttons onto cloth by a power button sewing machine. However, such a machine was not designed for sewing shank buttons, due to the difficulties encountered in bolding such buttons in the clamp provided on the machine.

Shank buttons have usually been fastened by a holding operation which was slow, due to the necessity for holding the button by the center part or shank, which also made it diflicult for the operator to see the hole. Where the button holder was required to secure the button by the shank thereof, the machine needed many holders with square holes and round holes of many sizes to accommodate buttons of different sizes and shapes, which required a special machine for that type of button.

One object of this invention is to overcome the objections heretofore encountered in machines for sewing shank buttons and to provide for the attachment of such shank buttons on the same button sewing machine as may be used for attaching fiat buttons, merely by the substitution of a different form of holder thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the holding of the shank buttons by the head or rim thereof, as distinguished from the shank, so as to accommodate in one holder many difierent sizes and shapes of buttons, without requiring various attachments to accommodate the many diiferent sizes and shapes. I

Another object of the invention is to provide for holding the button by an attachment on the machine which leaves the shank of the button free and clear, so as to be easily visible to the operator who can observe the proper centering and positioning of the button and buttonhole for the secure attachment of the button to the cloth upon manipulation of the needle.

Still another object of the invention is to facilitate and speed up the sewing operation, especially the problem of breaking the thread, which is accomplished according to this invention by the mere act of raising the button holder and the lower support plate, and which action also serves to clear the cloth from the machine and to facilitate the substitution of another cloth therein or a repositioning of the cloth due to the fact that the lifting of the button holder automatically releases the lower support plate and releases the cloth at the highest point of lift.

A still further object of the. invention is to improve the construction of button clamps for sewing machines to adapt the button clamp for use in holding a shank button by the rim of the head thereof and to facilitate the insertion and removal of the button and the application and removal of the cloth to the holder.

These objects may be accomplished according to one embodiment of the invention by the provision of an atice tachment for the button sewing machine which is provided with jaws spring-pressed in opposed relation, adapted to receive the head of a shank button therebetween and to hold the latter by the rim thereof. Such a holder will accommodate buttons of many different sizes and shapes and will locate the hole in the shank thereof in clear view of the operator to insure of proper positioning thereof and secure attachment during the stitching operation. The jaws are carried by a holder plate which is pivotally mounted for up and down movement with respect to the base plate secured on the base of the sewing machine. A detent connection between these parts of the holder provides for the automatic opening of the clamp and releasing of the fabric upon the lifting of the button holder with respect to the base of the machine, allowing the base plate to drop open. This will permit the operator to re-position the fabric for the attachment of another button or to substitute another fabric or garment therein.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which+ Fig. l is a side elevation of a button sewing machine showing the invention applied thereto;

- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the button holder;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough on the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the button holder in open relation;

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the button holder on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the button holder, showing a modification.

The invention is shown applied to a button sewing machine of the character set forth in the prior patent of William T. Maxant, No. 2,563,854, granted August 14, 1951, which is referred to for a more detailed illustration of the operating parts of the button sewing machine and the manner of operation thereof.

As shown in Fig. l, the button sewing machine includes a bed section, generally designated by the numeral 1, upon which a hollow base 2 is pivotally mounted for swinging movement to an open position so as to gain access to the operating parts thereof which are housed within the base 2. Normally the base is held in a closed position on the bed section 1 by a thumb screw 3 which fastens these parts in secure relation.

The hollow base 2 encloses the principal operating parts of the machine and confines these from entanglement with the cloth. This base 2 has a forward projection 4 on the front end thereof over which the cloth may be applied for attachment of a button thereto. 7

The base 2 also supports the usual upstanding standard 5 fixed on the base with an arm 6 extending forwardly from the standard 5, carrying the usual sewing head 7 at the free end thereof. These parts are hollow and in open communication with each other and with the interior of the base 2 for operation of the manipulative parts of the machine therethrough.

The sewing head 7 has the usual needle bar 8 operatively mounted therein and guided for rectilinear movement vertically through the head. The lower end of the needle bar 8 carries the usual sewing needle 9 for attachment of a button to the cloth as the latter is applied over the forward extension 4 on the base, within the button clamp as hereinafter described.

For the purpose of reciprocating the needle bar 8 j axially, operative mechanism is connected therewith and extends through the standard 5 and arm 6 from a drive shaft mounted within the base 2. This drive shaft pro-' latter may be driven, if desired, by a hand operation as usual, and such as is often provided in button sewing machines.

Also mounted in the base 2 is mechanism driven by the aforesaid drive shaft for manipulating the button clamp in timed relation to the reciprocating movements of the needle bar 8. In the aforesaid Patent No. 2,563,854 is described the operation of such mechanism for attaching either 2-hole or 4-hole buttons. The present form of button clamp may be substituted for that shown in the aforesaid patent, which latter was adapted for the attachment of flat buttons to the cloth or garment, whereas the present button clamp is adapted for use in attaching shank button thereto. This button clamp is manipulated by the same operating parts as described in said patent for attaching a 2-l1ole button to the cloth or garment.

This manipulation of the button clamp is accomplished by means of a head 11 mounted upon the base 2 and provided with pins 12 and 13 operatively mounted in the top of the base 2 by mechanism described in the aforesaid patent for reciprocating and turning the head 11 to accomplish a stitching of either a 2-hole or a 4-hole button, as described in the aforesaid patent, As noted herein, this mechanism is used for the type of operation which accomplishes a stitching of a 2-hole button. The button clamp for a shank-type button is attached to the head 11 and manipulated thereby. This attachment can be substituted for that used for fiat buttons, as described in said patent, merely by removing and replacing one attachment and substituting the other therefor, whereby the same sewing machine may be used for attachment of the different types of buttons.

Pivotally mounted on the head 11 is a yoke 14 which is pivoted thereto at 15 and disposed in upstanding relation therefrom. This yoke 14 is of inverted U-shape with spaced sides and a closed top, upon which latter is fixed one end of a holder plate 16, being attached thereto by screws 17 extending through slots in the plate 16 and into the closed side of the yoke 14 for secure attachment of the plate 16 thereto. The holder plate 16 extends forwardly over the base 2 and is spaced above the latter and the extension 4 thereof in the manner hereinafter described.

The button holder also includes an under jaw plate 1 8 which extends forwardly over the base 2 and the extension 4 thereof with a portion H on the outer end of said plate 13 adapted to rest upon the extension 4 and form a cloth support for the sewing operation. The opposite end of the jaw plate 15 is pivotally connected by a pin to the yoke 1 offset from the pivot 15, as shown in Fig. l for downward swinging movement relative to the holder plate 16 to provide for opening of the button clamp. Thus, the yoke 14 supports both plates 16 and 18 as one unit by reason of the ofiset disposal of the pivot 20 relative to the pivot 15, as shown in Fig. l.

The holder plate 16 is provided with a block 21 at the outer end thereof and secured thereto by screws 22. The block 21 extends downwardly from the free end of the holder plate 16 to a point adjacent the top surface of the cloth plate section 1Q. The lower end of the block 21 is also provided with a forwardly projecting support 23 intermediate the width thereof.

A pair of arms 24 extend outwardly on opposite sides of the support 23. Each of the arms 24 is pivotally supported at one end thereof on a pin 25, said arms being adjacent opposite sides of the block 21. The opposite ends of the arms 24 are provided with jaws 2.6 in opposed relation to each other formed as notches in the inner faces of the respective arms, adapted to engage the rim portion of button B therein.

The button B is usually provided with a convex head which is engaged in a seat 27 in a button support 28 which has an elongated shank slidably mounted and i316." scoped within the support 23. The button support 28 normally is urged outwardly to a limited extent by a coiled spring 29 mounted in the support 23 and is confined and limited in its movement by a set screw 30 threaded through a side of said support.

The arms 24 normally are urged inward to engage opposite sides of the rim of the button B by a leaf spring generally designated at 31 which is substantially U- shaped in the form illustrated with a closed side retained by a clamp 32 on the holder plate 16. The ends of the spring 31 engage in openings formed in the outer sides of the arms 24 and are retained thereby normally tending to move toward each other about the pivots 25. The inward movement of the arms may be limited by set screws 33 which are threaded through the arms into positions to engage opposite sides of the support 23, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Lock nuts 34 on the screws 33 tend to hold the latter in set positions.

The button B will be held by the clamping action of the arms 24 engaging the rim of the button, while the head of the latter is seated at 27, leaving the shank of the button free for observation by the operator directly over the opening formed at 35 in the cloth plate portion 1% The latter may be provided with a plate segment 36 adjustably secured thereon as a reinforcement for the penin 35- The closing movement of the plates 16 and 18 with respect to each other may be limited by an adjusting screw 37 threaded through the holder plate 16 in position to engage the top face of the plate 18 so as to prevent undue clamping action on the cloth therebetween. A lock nut 38 tends to retain the set screw 37 in its adjusted position.

Detent means is provided for retaining the plates 16 and 18 againstopening action relative to each other, comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, as described and illustratedherein. A rack bar 39 is fixed at one end upon the plate 18 and extends upwardly therefrom through a slot 40 in the plate 16. A pawl 41 is pivotally mounted at 42 on a brack'et 43 secured rigidly upon the holder plate 16. A torsion spring 44 is anchored at one end to the pawl 41 and at the opposite end to the plate 16, normally tending tourge the pawl 41 into engagement with the rack 39'. The upper end of the pawl 41 is provided with a shoe 45 in position to engage the bottom face of the arm 6 when the button clamp is lifted, swinging upward around the pivot 15.

This lifting action may be accomplished at the completion of the stitching operation by linkage attached to the button clamp. In the embodiment illustrated, a link 4 6is pivotally connected with a lug 49 secured to the top face of the plate 16 and extends upwardly therefrom to a bit crank lever 47 pivotally mounted at 48 within the arm 6, thence through linkage extending lengthwise of the .arm 6 and downward through the standard 5 to any suitable manually operated means for manipulating the button clamp. Usually a foot treadle is provided for this purpose to be operated at the completion of the stitching cycle so as to release the fabric or garment.

In operation, the button B may be inserted between the arms 24 into the jaws 26 thereof, with the shank of the button projecting outward so as to overlie the opening 35 through which the needle reciprocates and in the path of the needle when the button holder is lowered. The button will be retained thereby, due to the resiliency of the spring 31 causing the arms to engage the rim of the button while .the latter is engaged with the seat 27 of the button holder.

Upon inserting the fabric over the plate portion 19 in proper position to receive the button thereon, the operator may lower the plate 16 relative to the plate 18, and these parts will be retained in this position throughout the stitching operation, due to the engagement of the pa .1 with th k 39- Thereafter, the machine is operated, as described in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,563,854, to accomplish the stitching operation whereby the button is applied and secnred to the fabric or garment.

At the completion of this stitching operation, the linkage is manipulated by the operator to raise the button clamp through the connections generally indicated at 4649 in Fig. 1. This lifting operation will move the plates 16 and 18 together upward about the pivot until the shoe 45 engages the bottom face of the arm 6 of the sewing machine head. This engaging action usually is abrupt and sufiicient to disengage the pawl 41 from the rack 39, which will then allow the plate 18-19 to drop to its open position as shown in Fig. 4, while the operator holds the plate 16 in its raised position. This enables the operator to shift the cloth or garment, or to substitute another in its place, as well as to insert a button B in the holder in proper position for the stitching operation. Then, upon releasing the linkage 4649, the button clamp can be lowered onto the cloth or garment on the plate 19, and the button is ready for a stitching operation, repeating the latter, as described in the aforesaid patent.

This will continue until the buttons have been applied to the garment. Buttons may be used of different sizes and shapes, if desired, any of which may be held in the one holder which is used for all sizes and kinds of shanktype buttons without requiring special attachments for many different holders, as has been necessary heretofore.

This button holder can be used on the button sewing machine which normally attaches flat buttons merely by the replacement of the fiat type button holder for that designed for shank type buttons. Thus, the one sewing machine supplied with two separate holders may be used for applying many different sizes and kinds of buttons.

By holding the buttons at the rim thereof, the shank projects forward in full view of the operator so the latter can see and observe that the hole in the shank is properly centered and in the right position for secure attachment by the stitching operation.

The entire button holder, including the plate 18, is 1 lifted at the conclusion of the stitching operation and this action accomplishes a breaking of the button thread whereby the strain of breaking the thread is not on the button and material, but is applied directly to the thread by the manipulation of the button holder. As the holder is lifted at the conclusion of the stitching operation and the lower thread is broken, the clamping action applied to the holder is released and allows the bottom plate to open automatically for the insertion of another garment or a new position for the same garment.

Sometimes, the shank buttons to be applied to the garments have rims that are large and would project outside of the confines of the clamping jaw members 24. In that event, the pressure of the spring 31 may have a tendency to push the button out of the jaws 26.

In that event, a small clip 50 may be used on one or both of the arms 24, being adjustably secured in rigid relation thereto by the nut 34 on the screw 33. The clip 50 is shown as L-shaped with an arm in position to project below the lower edge of the arm 24 sufficiently to prevent the pressure of the clamp from being on the button itself. Thus the button B is held oif the plate portion 19.

Moreover, the clip or clips 50, engaging the top surface of the plate portion 19, prevent the cloth from moving during the sewing operation. This prevents a puckering of the cloth as a result of such movement.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention, as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A button clamp for a sewing machine comprising a pair of arms having opposed jaws adapted to receive the head of a shank button therebetween and, to embrace the rim thereof for holding the shank projecting from the jaws in position for stitching to a fabric, and a seat between the jaws in position for engaging the head of the button held thereby, an L-shaped clip on at least one of the arms and having one angular portion extending along the arm and a second angular portion extending downwardly therefrom below said jaw in position to hold the jaws in elevated positions, and means pivotally and adjustably connecting the first-mentioned angular portion of the clip to the arm for downward swinging movement of the second-mentioned angular portion relative thereto, said adjusting means being at the outer surface of the arm and accessible laterally at a point outside of the space between the jaws.

2. In a button sewing machine, the combination of a base, a yoke upstanding from the base, means pivoting the yoke to the base, button holding means carried by the yoke, a cloth plate adapted to underlie the material on which the button is to be applied, a support for the cloth plate, and separate means pivoting the cloth plate support on the yoke spaced upwardly from the yoke pivot means for holding the cloth plate in unitary assembly with the button holding means for movement relative thereto and for movement therewith relative to the base.

3. A button clamp for a sewing machine comprising an elongated support, a pair of arms extending lengthwise of the support on opposite sides thereof, means pivotally connecting the arms at one end with the support for swinging movement toward and from each other, jaws on the opposite ends of the arms arranged in opposed relation in an upright transverse plane and adapted to engage the rim of a shank button therebetween with the shank of the button projecting in one direction from said plane and with a convex head on said button projecting in the opposite direction from said plane, a seat mounted midway between said jaws in position for engaging the convex head of the button, means acting on the respective jaws yieldably urging the jaws toward each other and for relative movement toward and from each other, and adjusting screws connected with the arms and extending into abutting relation with opposite sides of the support for limiting the relative inward movement of the jaws toward each other.

4. A button clamp for a sewing machine comprising an elongated support, a pair of arms extending lengthwise of the support on opposite sides thereof, means pivotally connecting the arms at one end with the support for swinging movement toward and from each other, jaws on the opposite ends of the arms arranged in opposed relation in an upright transverse plane and adapted to engage the rim of a shank button therebetween with the shank of the button projecting in one direction from said plane and with a convex head on said button projecting in the opposite direction from said plane, a seat mounted midway between said jaws in position for engaging the convex head of the button, a U-shaped leaf spring embracing the arms and having the ends thereof connected with the arms and acting on the respective jaws yieldably urging the jaws toward each other and for relative movement toward and from each other, and adjusting screws connected with the arms and extending into abutting relation with opposite sides of the support for limiting the relative inward movement of the jaws toward each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 820,089 Bouton May 8, 1906 1,151,853 Barron Aug. 31, 1915 1,597,812 Lyons Aug. 31, 1926 1,654,593 Lyons Jan. 3, 1928 1,931,830 Rich Oct. 24, 1933 2,043,929 McCann June 9, 1936 2,096,136 Reece et al. Oct. 19, 1937 2,175,247 Brussell Oct. 10, 1939 2,318,369 Brussell May 4, 1943 

